Day 6 - am
09 Mar 2010 at 12:35
This WE, we went to the Durban city. The place we are staying is not actually Durban, it is suburb of it and takes 40-45mins by car to the city. (So we are all good girls Mon - Fri, there are nothing we can do except write a diary or go to bed after 20:00!) Anyway, so, we were all exited about this, then... driver didnt turn up. Well, it was not his fault, our coordinator gave him an old address. We were 2 hours late in total which was shame because we missed the one of the tour to go and see where street children based and how street girls survive. Apart of that, we had lovely guide from the one of other be-more project Umthombo(which means “Tree of hope” in Zulu) which based in a Durban city to look after street kids. He took us to the office then explained us about their project. They give a rehab programme for street kids, try to sort out the family/social problem so the kids can go back to the family, keep them in a right community and be educated so they will have a...
Day 5
09 Mar 2010 at 12:22
It is very common that things doesnt always go straight forward. This morning, driver was sick so replacement transport came an hour earlier than normal, no bus to take us back home for a lunch so we walked about 40 minutes under the sunshine! The road was really hilly (Im worried that one day our school mini bus with 40 kids + us will flip over) but well, it was a good exercises, Im proud of myself that I didnt have pain in my thigh!
This afternoon, we had a big meeting regarding the one of the worker at Agape who lives in volunteer house with us. He is African man with a German wife & a little baby. As a new volunteer, I havent come across much trouble with him but those who are already spent two months here had a bit of hard time. Interesting thing is, they called a pastor as a mediator. The owner and the manager of Agape was present and they are both South African ladies. The owner also had a problem with him, he was very rude on the phone already when they were trying...
Day 4
08 Mar 2010 at 12:38
I normally go to bed around midnight and its still 23:00 but really really tired, will fall into sleep very soon...
...and, I did fall into sleep after one sentence. This is already next day... How difficult to keep a simple record everyday!
So, Day 4... yes, it is the day safety issue raised. For children who lives here, here is a home. It is normal for them to run around everywhere but it is not really child friendly. The building is not well planned. You have to pass through a very narrow passage between the two building to go to a creche. The creche children is running between the main building and the creche by themselves. One moment, there were no staff in the creche but I had to get a clean nappy and a wipe (which dosent exist here so toilet paper and a warm water in a tapper) from the main building. When I get back to the main building to get more help later, one of the creche children came into the room by himself with a little lump on his forehead. Staff...
Day 3
05 Mar 2010 at 14:30
Day 3
Feel more comfortable and familiar to what Im doing here now. Though still not easy to remember the kid's name, every time they laugh at me so Im quite hopeless!
Today, I was with one of the girl who missed the bus to go to the school. They have to get up 5am cos bus will come and pick them up at 6am. (I was quite surprised that none of her room mate woke her up, btw.) Normally, they have to help the aunties or uncles and do some work if they skip the school. Then she said she cried when the bus gone without her because she didnt wanted to miss the school so Ive asked permission of the manager to do some homework with her. We did some mathematics paper work from the folder for her grade. It was a three-figure number addition and subtraction. She can do it but struggled as it was not in a normal order. They know the one of the number to add/subtract and answer but have to find out what is the other number to make the formula to be equal to the answer.(89-X=31 for...
Day 2
03 Mar 2010 at 12:31
I normally talks too much (as you all know!) & write too much but I really want to keep a record of my trip so I will try write something for everyday.
Tuesday is a day for our big meeting with a regional coordinator and a manager of Agape. A regional coordinator is a Dutch lady who lives in SA but a manager is a local S.African lady who worked as a teacher in Johannesburg for over 20 years. This is a big difference between other projects and Agape. Agape runs by a local people and we join and help them.
Historically, SA had a very difficult and tough time between black/colored & white people known as an Apartheid. This racial discrimination has only stopped in 1993, only 17 years ago. A manager is well educated, confident lady but this is very, very rare. There are aunties who lives in Agape and look after children. They are local ladies and they have difficulty asking volunteers for a help as they have not raised in that way. Be more project started in 2006...
Day 1
03 Mar 2010 at 12:26
It is nearly midnight & Im almost sleeping so cant tell you all the interesting stories.
There were so much things happened yesterday, I have only managed to write above sentence last night! First of all, finally, we are now six girls in a volunteer house! Three girls joined us yesterday afternoon from Netherlands. They all very nice. Interesting thing is, we all work for children back in our country & still choose to work for kids for our holiday! Mad people!
So, yesterday morning was a first day in Agape for me. Didnt know what will happen so very funny feeling. Exciting? - yes. When I saw about 40 kids sitting at the outside play area on their own little chair, only thing you can do is just smile. They all looked at a new arrival, curious, excitement in their eyes, then smiles like a sunshine. Theyve all got beautiful smile. There are day care too but still lots of them have gone through a tough time but they havent lost their smile. Brave kids.
I have spent...
Day -1 27-28/02/10
01 Mar 2010 at 12:25
Hi everybody, how is the weather like!?
I still cant believe that I am now in South Africa. I have arrived in Durban International Airport at 13:30 this afternoon. When I came out from the plane, there were sunshine and warm air welcomed me. It was lovely. It made me feel I am alive for some reason.
Some trouble happened (as you always expected!) but in the end, I have ended up in a volunteer house one day before the plan. It was shame that I had to cancel my lodge by the sea (because volunteer house is in the mountain side) but hopefully Ive got a chance to go & enjoy a sea some point. Durban is on the East coast of SA and famous for a lovely seaside.
There were two Dutch girls who has already spent two months here waiting for me at the volunteer house. We didnt stop talking until 5 mins ago btw! They both loved being here & I cant wait to experience it by myself. It was only 20:30 but we were all too tired & already in pyjama!
I dont know what to say...
Next trip
15 Nov 2009 at 13:30
Hello Hello,
As I have announced last time, sadly I am still under lovely sky of London (actually, it is lovely day for November today, I must say!). I have checked with my work BOSS and be more staff and now I am hoping to go on my trip from 1st March for 4 weeks. I am working hard at work and sorting out my messy life now. Fingers cross!!!
However, I have more time before my trip so I have more time to prepare, which is not bad. (You have to see possitive side everytime.) I am planning to work more on my cards too. Now I have all my stuffs moved to London so no excuse. (just need to unpack my stuffs...) I have updated my cards on my website so if anybody interested in it, please have a look. Though Christmas cards are not yet on the site, I will attach it on this weblog to give a people an idea. (or make them convince to order...)
http://www.docrafts.co.uk/community/profile/profile.aspx?buddy=251377
Now... today, I would like to update my Japanese translation about...
New card goodies
28 Sep 2009 at 14:41
Hello to eveybody,
I have recently visited a big craft show in London with my friend and got loads of stuffs for my christmas card this year. I will try make as much as possible but its all to sell for my donnation to Agape, nobody (except my little nieces) will recieve christmas card from me this year, sorry mates! You are all welcome to buy one from me though!
I have spoke about Agape to my work collegues and actually, they are really interested in & wants to join too! Too late to plan for this time but hopefully we can plan it together in the future! I have to send a link of my weblog to everybody first, by the way! Too many things to do all the time in my life (as everybody knows!), let me sort it out one by one...
Ive have lovely message from Carol who is currantly in Agape, thank you for that! Really made me motivated!
Please drop me any message, I am looking forward to speak with you soon!
みなさんコンニチハ。...
Here I start
16 Sep 2009 at 19:48
There are loads of things happened in a past few years but this will become my life changing experience for sure.
Hello and thank you for visiting my weblog. I have spoke with my friends and family so you all know but I am going to South Africa as a volunteer in an orphanage in 2 months time. This weblog will give you a link to the main website of the organization - Bemore. I would like to ask you to have a little tour so you will get more idea of my plan.
I will keep update my diary before, during and after the project to share my dream experiences with you all.
ここ数年でいろいろなことがありましたが、今また人生が変わるような出来事を体験することになるだろうことは間違いないです。...
Name: Kaoru Yamanaka
Is volunteering at Agape from 01 March 2010 to 27 March 2010.
About me:
Hello, my name is Kaoru. Thank you for visiting my weblog. I am living & working in London as a paediatric nurse.
Links
Be More
Would you like to know more about Be More, then check the website at www.be-more.org. You can find the latest news, more information about my project and you can become a donor!
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